Ophthalmic mounting



Patented Nov. 15, 1927;

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE...

FREDERICK A. STEVENS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BAUSCH &

LOMB OPTICAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER,

YORK.

NEW! YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW OPHTHALRIIC MOUNTING.

Original application filed May 15, 1922, Serial No. 560,956. Divided andthis application filed January 4,

The present invention relates to ophthalmic mountings, and thoughcertain features thereof are applicable to other mountings, theinvention relates more particularly to 6 spectacle temples. The presentapplication is a division of a copending application,

Serial No. 560,956, filed May 15, 1922.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a spectacletemple constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;Fig. 2 is a section taken upon the line 83 of F ig.

1, illustrating a preferred method of manufacture; Fig. 3 is a similarsection of the completed article; Fig. & is a similar sec tion of amodification; and Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive are sections ormodifiedu'einforcing rods.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a spectacle temple of thecombined-metal and-non-metallic type, which is chosen to typify anyophthalmic mounting. The

temple comprises a non-metal member 2 provided at its forward end with ahinge plate 4, whereby it may be hinged to a spectacledens frame. Themember 2 tapers on its outer surface from the forward end towards therear end, as shown in Fig. 1, and it is taperingly flattened at thesides 80. Spectacle temples of this type are commonly constituted ofnon-metal material wholly, and are therefore comparatively heavy andclumsy,and rather thick at the rear end, to provide the necessaryrigidity for holding the temple in place behind the ear. This isparticularly true of skull temples, for the rear ends of skull templesare designed to engage, and hold firmly against, the skull, and thisthey can not do unless the nonmetal material is thick and of substantialproportions.

According to the invention claimed in a copending application, SerialNo. 197,640. filed September 1, 1921, it is possible to make thethickness of the rear end of the temple small compared to that of theforward end, the required rigidity being attained by the use of areinforcing member. To this end, the non-metal member 2 is constitutedof a seamless tube within the bore 6 of which is completely enclosed areinforcing member 8, such as a metal rod. .A. temple so constructed,though very thin Serial l lo. 79,135.

at the rear end, will maintain any form into which it may be shaped, and.will be strong enough to press firmly in and to 6 when the parts of thetemple are bent to shape. This twisting, of course, destroys therigidity of the structure as a whole, and the degree of twist increaseswith use. i a

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improvedtemple in which this twisting effect is eliminated.

feature of the invention resides in the use of a reinforcing rod 8 thatis provided with sharp or nearly sharp, ridges 46 that bite into, and sobecome embedded within, the non-metal material, the ridges beingconnected together by reentrant curves or angles 58. It is obviouslyimpossible fora rod 8 so embedded to twist in its bore 6.

To this, end,

The preferred reinforcing rod 8 is approximately square in crosssection, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. but this is not essential, as othercross-sectional shapes may equally well be employed. In the interest ofincreased rigidity, the rod should not yield much to the shape of acircle; but if pro I vided with the beforementioned reentrant angles orcurves, the ridges 46. are rendered more pronounced. It is not essentialthat the reinforcing rods occupy any particular osition in the non-metalmember, as will e understood from Figs. 3 and 4, both of which representefficient constructions.

To insert the rod in the bore 6, which is usually originally circular incross section, as shown in Fig; 2, the wall ofthe bore 6 is firstreferably softened, as by the use of alcoho, acetone or other solvent,after which the reinforcing rod is forced into the bore. The ridges 46di intothe non-metal material as the rod is i'brced into the bore,

becoming firmly locked in place,and the softened, non-metal materialcollects between the; faces of the rod and the wall of the bore 6,acting as a lubricant while the rod is being forced into place, butbecoming ultimately hardened and solid, aswill be understood from Fig.3. It Will therefore be understood that the-diameter of the bore 6should be greater than the side of the cross-sectional square shown inFig; 2-, but less than the diagonal offthe square, and similarconsiderations will hold with other shapes than squares. Afterthe partshave become-set, thevtemple is bent into the required shape, illustratedin Fig. 1. It w ill' be found that the metal and the nonmetalmaterialwill bend as a unit, without twisting.

The ni vention is obviously not restricted to the exactembodimen'tsthatare illustrated the rearend being small compared to that oftlieforward end, and areinforcing member inthe bore of the tube, thereinforcing member being square in cross section, with the ridges of thesquare embeddedin' the non metal material and connected togetherreentrantly, the mounting being bent into, the shape of a spectacletemple.

3. Aspectacle temple comprising anonmetal member, and a substantiallysharp ridged reinforcingmetal member in the nonmetalmember, theridgesbeing embedded in the non-metal materialend connectedtogethenre'entrantly; a

t: A spectacle temple comprising a nonmetal tub, and a reinforcing metalmember in the bore of the non-metal tube, the reinforcing member beingprovided with sub stantially' sharp ridges embedded in the nonmetalmaterial, the ridges extending-substantially throughout the length ofthe reinforcing member and being connected together recntrantly. r a

5. An ophthalmic mounting comprising a non-metal tube, and areinforcingmember in the bore ofthe tube, the reinforcing member being providedirith substantially sharp ridges en'ibeddcd in the non-metal material,the ridges being coextensive with the non metal material in which thereinforcing member is embedded and being connected together reentrantly.

6. An ophthalmic mounting comprising a non inetal tube, and areinforcing member in the bore of the tube and having a plurality of rides extending substantially throughout its ength and embedded in thenon-met: al material substantially throughout their length, the ridgesbeing connected together reentrantly.

'7. An ophthalmic mounting comprising a non-metal membertaperin g fromthe forward end towards the rear end and the opposite sides of which areflattened, the thickness of the rear end being small comparedto that ofthe forward end, and a reinforcing membcr'in the nonanetalmeinber'having rid; embedded in the nonmetal material 1 connectedtogether rcentrantly, the mounting being bent into the shape of aspectacle temple.

8. A spectacle temple comprising a nonmetal. member, and a reinforcingmetal member in the nonmetal member, the reinford ing member beingsquare in cross section, with the ridges of the square embedded in thenon-metal material and comiectedtogether reentrantly.

9. A spectacle temple comprising a nonmetal seamless tube, and areinforcing metal member in the bore of the non-metal tube,

the reinforcing member being provided with pronounced, substantiallysharp ridges embedded in the nonmetal material throughout their length,the ridges extending substan tially throughout the length of t-hereinforingmember and being connected together reentrantly.

1'0. A; spectacle temple comprising a nonmetal tube, and a reinforcingmember in the bore of the tube, the reinforcing member being providedwith a plurality of substantially parallel ridges susstantiallyseparated from each other and extending continuously substantiallythroughout its length and embedded substantially throughout their lengthin thenon-metal material, the ridges being coextensive with thenon-metalmaterial in which they are embedded and being connectedtogether reentrantly.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed" my name. i

FREDERICK A. STEVENS.

